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PREVALENCE OF MALOCCLUSION AMONG 12-15-YEAR-OLDS IN MOSHI, TANZANIA, USING BJORK’S CRITERIA
Abstract
Objective: To assess the prevalence of malocclusion in 12-15 - year-olds in Moshi, Tanzania.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Setting: Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania.
Subjects: Two hundred and eighty nine randomly selected primary school children (153 males and 136 females) had a clinical examination for malocclusion traits done.
Results: The overall prevalence of malocclusion was 97.6%. Angle’s Class II and III malocclusion occurred in 6.9% and 11% of the sample respectively. Crowding was encountered very frequently in both jaws, especially in the lower anterior segments. Anterior open bite occurred in 6.2% and
the deep bite in 10.7% of the sample. There was no significant gender difference in either the overall prevalence of malocclusion or in the occurrence of the different occlusal traits.
Conclusion: It was noteworthy that some of the malocclusion traits recorded were relatively minor deviations from the normal occlusion. Hence the high prevalence of malocclusion did not necessarily imply a heavy burden of need and demand for orthodontic treatment.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Setting: Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania.
Subjects: Two hundred and eighty nine randomly selected primary school children (153 males and 136 females) had a clinical examination for malocclusion traits done.
Results: The overall prevalence of malocclusion was 97.6%. Angle’s Class II and III malocclusion occurred in 6.9% and 11% of the sample respectively. Crowding was encountered very frequently in both jaws, especially in the lower anterior segments. Anterior open bite occurred in 6.2% and
the deep bite in 10.7% of the sample. There was no significant gender difference in either the overall prevalence of malocclusion or in the occurrence of the different occlusal traits.
Conclusion: It was noteworthy that some of the malocclusion traits recorded were relatively minor deviations from the normal occlusion. Hence the high prevalence of malocclusion did not necessarily imply a heavy burden of need and demand for orthodontic treatment.
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